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    Home » Recipes » From Scratch Essentials

    Old Fashioned Buttermilk Pancakes

    Published: Feb 2, 2021 · Modified: Jun 15, 2023 by Amanda · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads

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    syrup pouring over a stack of pancakes and bite of pancakes on a fork.
    syrup pouring over a stack of pancakes and bite of pancakes on a fork.

    Old fashioned buttermilk pancakes are the fluffiest pancakes with amazing flavor. With just a few simple ingredients, these pancakes come together easily for an epic weekend breakfast!

    pitcher pouring syrup over a stack of three pancakes on a white plate.

    This post was originally published in May 2019 and has been updated for content.

    Our family loves breakfast food, especially for dinner or on the weekends. These homemade buttermilk pancakes are made AT LEAST once a week in our house.

    Whip up these pancakes in no time with a few pantry staples to make the BEST pancakes that are way better than any box mix.

    The buttermilk adds a slight tang and also makes them super fluffy. These tender pancakes can also be frozen, or you can keep a batch of the dry mix on hand for even easier prep!

    Serve these classic buttermilk pancakes with a crispy hash brown crust quiche, soft scrambled eggs or citrus salad.

    Jump to:
    • 🥞 Ingredient notes
    • 📋 Substitutions and variations
    • 🥣 Step by step instructions
    • ⭐Expert tips
    • 💭 Frequently asked questions
    • ⏲️ Make ahead and storage instructions
    • 🍳 More weekend breakfast ideas
    • #ScarlatiFamilyKitchen
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    🥞 Ingredient notes

    flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, egg, melted butter and buttermilk.
    • Buttermilk - Buttermilk mixed with baking powder causes a reaction that makes these pancakes super fluffy. I highly recommend using it, but buttermilk might not be something you buy all the time. You can use the leftovers to make crispy fried chicken sandwiches, ham and cheese biscuits or cast iron strawberry biscuits! You can also make your own buttermilk by mixing together 1 ¼ cups of whole regular milk with 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes to thicken and then use as directed.

    📋 Substitutions and variations

    • Chocolate Chips - After pouring the batter in the pan, sprinkle a few chocolate chips on the top before flipping the pancakes.
    • Berries - After pouring the batter in the pan, sprinkle blueberries, chopped strawberries or raspberries on the top before flipping.
    • Sprinkles - After pouring the batter in the pan, add sprinkles on top before flipping to finish cooking.
    • Dairy Free - Use a dairy free or plant based butter substitute. To substitute the buttermilk, use 1 ¼ cup dairy free or plant based milk mixed with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.
    • Gluten Free - Use a cup for cup gluten free all purpose flour to make these pancakes gluten free.

    🥣 Step by step instructions

    First, heat up a griddle pan or electric griddle on medium low heat. Whisk flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in a large bowl and then set aside.

    Whisk the buttermilk, egg and melted butter together in a separate bowl. Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and whisk to combine.

    whisk on table next to liquid mixture in cup and flour mixture in bowl.

    Lightly grease the hot griddle or pan and pour about ¼ cup of the batter onto the pan for each pancake.

    Cook pancakes for about 45-60 seconds on the first side until golden brown. Flip and cook an additional 30-45 seconds on the other side.

    pancakes cooking on a skillet and finished pancakes on cast iron skillet.

    If you ever don't recognize a tool or skill that I mention, be sure to look it up in our Glossary of Cooking Terms and Definitions for more information.

    Go to Glossary

    ⭐Expert tips

    • Mix the buttermilk pancake batter until it's combined and most of the lumps are gone. If there are still a few small lumps, that's fine.
    • Cook the pancakes over medium low or medium heat at most. If the pan is too hot, they will be browned on the outside but not cooked on the inside.

    💭 Frequently asked questions

    What does buttermilk do in pancakes?

    The acid in buttermilk helps activate the baking powder to give an extra boost for super fluffy buttermilk pancakes. It also gives the pancakes a nice subtle tang that is expected from buttermilk pancakes.

    ⏲️ Make ahead and storage instructions

    Once you mix the batter together it's best to cook them right away. The ingredients react together to make the fluffy pancakes, so storing the batter for later doesn't work. Instead, make your own mix or freeze the pancakes for later.

    Pancake Mix - Double or triple the dry ingredients and store in an airtight container in the pantry. When you are ready to make pancakes, mix 1 egg, 3 tablespoons of melted butter and 1 ⅓ cup buttermilk together. Add that to a bowl with 1 ⅔ cups of the dry mix and combine to the make the batter for one batch of pancakes.

    Freezer - Lay the old fashioned buttermilk pancakes in a single layer on a sheet pan and freeze. Transfer to a freezer safe container or ziptop bag and store for up for to 2 months. Reheat in the microwave, on the stovetop or in a toaster oven.

    Leftover pancakes will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Warm them up on the stovetop over low heat or in a microwave or toaster oven.

    For a quick overview of this recipe, check out my web story for these Old Fashioned Pancakes.

    🍳 More weekend breakfast ideas

    If you enjoyed this old fashioned buttermilk pancake recipe, check out these other tasty weekend breakfast ideas that I know you will love too!

    • Nutella Pancakes
    • Homemade Breakfast Pizza Recipe
    • Brown Sugar Cinnamon French Toast
    • Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls

    #ScarlatiFamilyKitchen

    If you make this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and give it a rating. I love to hear from each and every one of you! Tag me on Facebook and Instagram as well! It makes my day to see all of your photos of the food you have made.

    📖 Recipe

    stack of three pancakes on a plate with syrup pouring over them.

    Old Fashioned Buttermilk Pancakes Recipe

    Amanda
    Old fashioned buttermilk pancakes are the fluffiest pancakes with amazing flavor. With just a few simple ingredients, these pancakes come together easily for an epic weekend breakfast!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 25 minutes mins
    Course Breakfast + Brunch
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 218 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
    • 1 Tablespoon baking powder
    • 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 ⅓ cups buttermilk
    • 1 large egg
    • 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter melted and cooled (plus extra for greasing the pan)

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat griddle pan or electric griddle over medium low heat.
    • In a mixing bowl combine flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Whisk to combine.
    • In a small bowl combine buttermilk, egg, and butter and whisk to combine. 
    • Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and whisk together until no lumps remain. 
    • Grease pan or griddle with butter and using a ladle or measuring cup, pour ¼ cup of the batter onto the pan for each pancake. Cook for 45 - 60 seconds until bubbles start to form and pop and underside is golden brown.
    • Flip pancakes over and cook an additional 30 seconds until the other side is browned as well. Repeat with remaining batter.

    Notes

      • Mix the batter until it's combined and most of the lumps are gone. A few small lumps are ok.
      • Cook pancakes over medium low or medium heat at the most. If the pan is too hot, they will be browned on the outside but not cooked on the inside.
     

    Substitutions and Variations

    • Buttermilk - Mix together 1 ¼ cups of milk with 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes to thicken and then use as directed.
    • Chocolate Chips - Sprinkle a few chocolate chips on the top of the uncooked side before flipping the pancakes.
    • Sprinkles - After pouring the batter in the pan, add sprinkles on top before flipping to finish cooking.
    • Berries - Sprinkle blueberries, chopped strawberries or raspberries on the top of the uncooked side of the pancakes before flipping.
    • Dairy Free - Use a dairy free or plant based butter substitute. To substitute the buttermilk, use 1 ¼ cup dairy free or plant based milk mixed with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.
    • Gluten Free - Use a cup for cup gluten free all purpose flour.
     

    Make Ahead and Storage Instructions

    Mix - Double or triple the dry ingredients and store in an airtight container in the pantry. To use the mix, combine 1 egg, 3 tablespoons of melted butter and 1 ⅓ cup buttermilk together. Add to a bowl with 1 ⅔ cups of the dry mix and combine to the make the batter for one batch of pancakes.
    Freezer - Lay cooked and cooled pancakes in a single layer on a sheet pan and freeze. Transfer to a freezer safe container or ziptop bag and store for up to 2 months.
    Leftovers - Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.  Leftovers can be warmed up in the microwave, on the stovetop or in a toaster oven.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2pancakesCalories: 218kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 6gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 52mgSodium: 669mgPotassium: 119mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 308IUCalcium: 190mgIron: 2mg
    Did You Make This Recipe?Mention @scarlatifamilykitchen or tag #scarlatifamilykitchen!

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    1. Daylea

      February 07, 2021 at 3:38 pm

      Absolutely delicious. Fluffy with a nice tang from the buttermilk. Super easy to make.

      Reply
      • Amanda

        February 07, 2021 at 3:45 pm

        Excellent! So glad you liked them, thank you for trying them!

        Reply
    2. Janine

      February 03, 2021 at 5:04 pm

      5 stars
      I loved this recipe! I plan to use this one from now on because the one I would previously use would often give me one round of fluffy pancakes and then the rest would be flat. These produced an entire batch of fluffy pancakes. I added chocolate chips to them because my kids prefer pancakes that way, and they were great! Highly recommend!

      Reply
      • Amanda

        February 03, 2021 at 5:17 pm

        Thank you so much for trying the recipe, I'm so glad you loved them!

        Reply

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